TUCFC: 2015 Week 14

Texas Christian (20 TUCFC Power Rating) reclaimed the TUCFC this past weekend with a 28-21 win over Baylor (24).  Sad to say the TUCFC champ will not be moving into the college football playoff and so now we wait to see what bowl match-up they get.

This is the first time in a while where there were no major upsets.  Now we get the conference championships and then we get the reveal of the four playoff teams.  Let's look at the playoff situation.
Let's talk about the final four.  Who gets in the best teams or the teams who have earned their way in?  For example how many people believe the when they play to their potential Ohio State is the best team?  I'm raising my hand, how about you?  So who are the best four teams.  Well the TUCFC Power Ratings can help with that let's see who it would put in the final four after week 13.

1. Alabama
2. Stanford
3. Clemson
4. Michigan State

I feel for Stanford.  They lost their opener on the road, a 9am Pacific time kickoff, to a good team Northwestern (10).  Then lost at home to a surging Oregon (12).  If they had won either of those games and only had one loss, I believe they would be in the playoff final four ahead of Oklahoma (5), but as it is I'm not sure they can get in.  They have to hope for Alabama and Clemson both losing, and they need to handle USC (15) to have any shot.  Personally I believe the Power Rating is correct and they are one of the four best teams, but with two losses, even though they are good losses, it can't be overcome without other chaos.  Michigan State is the other team I have in who is currently out, but if they beat Iowa (6) it is assumed they are getting in, and if Iowa beats Michigan State the TUCFC Power Rating would reflect that as well.  So in essence the only top four team the Power Rating lists as a top four team that will likely miss the playoffs is Stanford.

But what about Ohio State (7).  At their best isn't Ohio State the best team.  That may be, but the truth is in sports you have to prove it on the field, and they have not.  Their may be a chance for them to get in, but they will need Clemson, Iowa, Alabama, and Stanford to all lose.

There is a lot of talk about North Carolina (23).  Their TUCFC Power Rating tells you all you need to know about Carolina.  They will not get in, even if they destroy Clemson.  People just don't believe and here is why.  Carolina has a WP rating of 676.063.  That rating reflects the level of competition you have beaten.  Compare that to Ohio State 1,012.656 or Stanford 1,352.531.  They have not beaten anyone of consequence, and a win over Clemson will simply diminish Clemson, I believe, more than it will help elevate North Carolina into the top four.

So it would appear that the teams we are looking at to be in the playoffs are legitimately the best teams.  We have Clemson, Alabama, Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Stanford.  That's pretty much the list of teams that can get in, and I'll be fine with any four out of that bunch.  It's funny how the Big 10 has risen in power the last two seasons.


TUCFC Power Rating

Rank	Team	Record	WP	WDiffP	LP	LDiffP	Power
1	Alabama	11-1	1,462.844	1,132.425	34.719	88.250	2,472.300
2	Stanford	10-2	1,352.531	1,016.300	52.969	140.438	2,175.425
3	Clemson	12-0	1,051.594	986.612	0.000	0.000	2,038.206
4	Michigan State	11-1	1,362.250	1,010.038	109.813	251.313	2,011.163
5	Oklahoma	11-1	1,071.031	1,024.000	58.250	176.500	1,860.281
6	Iowa	12-0	1,029.875	812.400	0.000	0.000	1,842.275
7	Ohio State	11-1	1,012.656	908.325	34.844	57.625	1,828.513
8	Mississippi	9-3	1,170.000	947.987	103.625	285.500	1,728.863
9	Notre Dame	10-2	964.688	819.937	20.594	53.938	1,710.094
10	Northwestern	10-2	1,029.469	750.500	34.094	125.438	1,620.438
11	Florida	10-2	983.656	763.663	69.219	173.813	1,504.288
12	Oregon	9-3	1,101.844	811.325	142.156	335.375	1,435.638
13	Louisiana State	8-3	991.063	738.075	104.563	288.438	1,336.138
14	Michigan	9-3	858.563	743.063	100.219	212.938	1,288.469
15	Southern California	8-4	1,013.281	828.638	171.531	410.938	1,259.450
16	Utah	9-3	1,100.406	824.362	199.031	490.375	1,235.363
17	Florida State	10-2	762.094	747.337	114.188	243.750	1,151.494
18	Memphis	9-3	710.469	689.937	66.969	183.250	1,150.188
19	Oklahoma State	10-2	656.094	626.100	34.625	116.875	1,130.694
20	Texas Christian	10-2	616.938	625.712	33.938	107.125	1,101.588
21	Navy	9-2	582.469	637.525	38.875	106.063	1,075.056
22	Houston	11-1	665.781	712.537	101.719	220.438	1,056.163
23	North Carolina	11-1	676.063	776.963	135.625	296.813	1,020.588
24	Baylor	9-2	511.969	602.275	33.844	96.688	983.712
25	Arkansas	7-5	944.125	680.725	191.594	485.125	948.131

Top KY Team

36

Western Kentucky

10-2

524.594

566.863

95.313

260.250

735.894